HP's new Elite x2 might as well be the Surface Pro 5 that Microsoft won't sell
With Microsoft seemingly uninterested in releasing a new 2-in-1 Surface Pro, other PC makers like HP are stepping in to fill the void.
HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 (yeah it's a mouthful) is the latest Surface Pro clone and it packs quite the punch.
You want premium looks in a thin and light package? The Elite x2's got it. The aluminum tablet's thinner than a Surface Pro 4 at 0.36 inches thick.
You want a bright and sharp screen? The Elite x2's got it. The 12.3-inch touchscreen is larger than its 11.6-inch predecessor and the resolution's identical to the Surface Pro 4's: 2,736 x 1,824.
You want lots of power? Good, because the Elite x2's got that as well. Powering Windows 10 are seventh-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors with Intel HD Graphics 620, 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of SSD storage.
You want long battery life? HP says the hybrid lasts up to 10 hours and 15 minutes on a charge and can fast charge its up to 50% in 30 minutes.
You want lots of ports? Perfect, because the Elite x2's got all the ones you need, including a USB-C 3.1 Thunderbolt port, full-sized USB 3.0 port (because nobody likes being in #donglehell), a SIM card slot for cellular connectivity, microSD card slot, and a headphone jack.
You want to take photos with a tablet? Hey, we're not gonna judge you. The Elite x2's got a 5-megapixel shooter on the front and an 8-megapixels camera on the back with LED flash.
You want nice sound? Compared to the previous Elite x2, the new one's got front-facing stereo speakers that direct sound towards you and not away from you. HP says the speakers are also designed to enhance bass.
What about top notch security to lock down all your precious memes work documents? You guessed it, this baby's got a fingerprint sensor on the back and an IR camera on the front for face authentication.
Add on the sturdy Collaboration Keyboard with its backlit keys with 1.5mm key travel and loop for the Active Pen stylus and you've got yourself a solid laptop replacement to bang out that term paper, compile that quarterly report, or create the next Deviantart masterpiece.
HP's new 2-in-1 sounds like a whole lot of win. It starts at $1,099 and will be available sometime around July.
Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.
